A Hat Trick for the Blue Shirts!

After being shut out on home ice against Islanders and it seemed like the Rangers hit rock bottom this team manages to pull out three straight wins and are only two points out of a playoff spot.

A 5-2 win against the Islanders following the home ice shut out loss, a 2-1 win over the Flyers where Lundqvist stood on his head in the third stopping 36 of 37 total shots in the game and last night in Raleigh taking a 3-1 winner over the Canes.

After the Rangers trailed 1-0 early in the second they wasted no time, well twenty eight seconds to be exact to even the score at one when the Leagues leading goals scorer found the puck on his stick in front of an empty net as he slammed it home.

That would be all the scoring in the second as we would see a 1-1 dead lock going into third. Even though the game was tied and Rangers were being out shot 20-16 after two, the Rangers seemed to be the team getting more quality chances. I guess it's quality not quantity and this had the Rangers feeling confident going into the final session.

The top line would get it done again on a beautiful passing play off a turn over that lead to Gaborik hitting Dubinsky that had Cam Ward moving left to right and Gabby would hit Dubby back left as he buried it for a 2-1 edge only 1:21 into the period.

The Rangers put out a solid team effort in the third starting with the back bone Lundqvist in goal and reinstated defensemen Wade Redden and Matt Gilroy who both played well on defense. Redden played aggressive with nothing fancy closing gaps and keeping the puck out while getting two shots on goal. The first line got the job done scoring the two big goals while Marc Staal would seal the deal with an empty netter and a 3-1 Rangers win.

This is the first time the Rangers won three straight since they won the seven straight at the beginning of the season. Yes the three teams they just beat all have their problems of their own but Rangers got the job done. They got their way out of from the bottom pack and now are only two points out of a playoff spot. Their next meeting will be with a team that is right above them in the standings holding down the eight spot, the Florida Panthers. At the moment the Panthers have 39 points and the Rangers 37. This will be a Big one at MSG on Wednesday night as the blue shirts will push for four and try to give their faith full a early Christmas gift.

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